The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-10-07
A STEADFAST FLAME.
BY JAMES FRANKLIN FITS.

The time referred to was near 20
years ago. was then private secre'
tary or general factotum OF the mil
lionnaire, John Rawlinson. How and
where he picked me up and attached
me to him is OF no consequence, for
the story has no relation TO myself.
Yet the episode may be OF some value
us showing something OF him.
1t happened at the Parker House,
Boston. | had come to the city to
look up q rich relative, from whom
had reason to expect profitable EN-
ployment. Standing at the desk l
registered in that large, round back
hand that is part OF me. turned to
step away and saw that a heavy man
with dull-looking face, relieved by
piercing little gray eyes, had been look
ing over my shoulder.
"Hold on sir" he said. IL want
to see you"
He seized the pen, scored OIL the
name "John Rawlinson" in O Grabbed
hand, and asked me to step into the
reading-room with him.
He motioned me to q chair, and
took one himself. Then without q
word, he stared at me for a full min
ute.
The oddity OF the thing struck me.
laughed.
you'll know me when you see me
u.a;,, I hAaa - xuaa NV ram0rk.
"You write just as old Max BERT
used to-" he said. Max was my con-
tidential clerk years ago. He fell into
the lake at Chicago and was drowned d.
want you to write my letters. Who
are you, anyway
told him.
"Poor young fellow; no relatives;
college bred --ehl"
'No relations but the uncle l came
here to look for, and I'm not sure
that he will acknowledge me. | never
saw a college, and as for poverty
when pay for my dinner, l don't
know where | shall get another"
The strange man deliberately ended
his inspection OF me.
81 rather like your face; certainly
like your account OF yourself. !
haven t any relatives, either; they do
q man no good. | hate colleges, be-
cause they take bright young fellows
and make conceited asses out OF them.
started poor, and like to see Others
do the same. Do you want good EN-
ploymentY
"Above all things, sir."
"Pll give you $500 the first year,
and pay your expenses to go with me,
write for me and attend to my inter
ests generally"
accepted the offer on the spot.
"You ought to understand, Sir, That
I'm called eccentric; and when man
worth million gets that name, there
must be something in it. And then
Pm travelling about all the time
You'll go where go. Does this change
your mindY"
''No, SIR"
"Very well. Come into dinner.
pay the bills"
Before the end of that year we had
iourneyed many thousands oil miles
by railroad, steamboat and stage IN
thirteen states. My business conneo
tions with him lasted almost three
years. -.
During all the time had never dis
covered that John Rawlinson had q
permanent home. We stopped at
hotels. never knew him to make q
VISIT to any person except strictly In
the way of business. soon began to
see that he was avoiding the people
who had known him in the past years
He never breathed a word to me o.
his previous life, nor did he encourage
my talk on anything except business
| found abundant occupation II
writing his letters. reading and brlet
inc I'D his mail, which followed him
over the country, and taking curefu
notes OF all the information that h'
collected. His business was entire
ly the seeking of promising invest
ments in real estate. | have under
stood, since then, some OF his shrewd
ness and foresight. Dozens OF thriving
cities exist now, where in that day
was nothing but the virgin forest OF
prairie; very few OF them but were
marked in advance by Mr.. Rowlin
sons keen eve as promising sites; anc
have no doubt that these timely in
vestments have increased his millions
ten fold.
One day at hotel in q southwest
ern city gentleman accosted HIM
spoke mis- name and offered his hand.
Mr.. Rawlinson returr-S his saluta